· dick posey a daughter ofthe rogues i checked my jaded horse before a door where toiled an old...
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lCHARD POS E % CAMPBE LL
AS HLAN D , OR E GO N
Daughter of
[Logues
A Tale ofthe Rogue River Valley
Copyt igbted 1 9 1 9
By RICHARD POS E % CAMPBE LLASHLAND. ORE GON
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D E DICATO R %
TO TH E F E W WHO MAY CHAN CE TO R EAD
TH IS S IMPL E TAL E , IT IS DED ICATED .
S hould i t g ive you a momentary glimpse into
the wealth of America’s scen ic splendor , a taste
for the great out-of—doors , a loft ier ideal of theworth of true friendship , the beauty of. an un
selfish spirit , and the sacred purity of a love
that would sacrifice al l on the alter of its de
vot ion , then this l ittle story shal l not have been
told in vain . D IC% PO S E% .
Di ck Posey
A Daughter ofthe Rogues
I checked my jaded horse before a door
Where toiled an old man in his garden there ,
And , much emboldened by his courteous sm i l e .
Besought him that a weary man might fare
A day or so beneath his friendly roof .“Aye, you are welcome in our home , he said ,
There’s none to say he found no welcome here ,
—My wife and I are both V i rginia bred ,The latch string ever hangs from out our door .
But she is old and sick , our fare is plain ,
So , for your comfort , I do not hesitate
To po int you to the weary trai l again ,
Which , i f you follow on for one b rief m i le,
Wil l lead you to the ‘Squaw Man’. He, I know
Can give you food and shelter, and he wi l l ,
For he is kind ,—leastwise I find him so ,Though some there be that say he is morose
And does not mingle with them . Even so ,
He i s my friend . And then , his squaw is good
And passing fai r as Indian women go .
%
I thanked him kind ly, for I could but feel'Twas even as he said . My horse trudged on
And ever as we went I felt the spel l
O f gorgeous landscape meeting sky of June,
D ick Posey
The rugged mountains , Cascades , S iskiyous,
Green garbed in al l the splendor of the spring ,
And , at thei r feet the V alley o f the Rogue ,
Sweet with blooming trees and bi rds that sing .
And as I sensed it a l l with quickened breath ,
I l aughed to feel t he surge of rich , red blood ,
Within my arteries . No longer Death
Lurked in my footsteps . The dry, expanded ai r,
The breath o f resinous woods , the s imple food ,
Cooked al l unaided by some mounta in stream
And plucked from Nature’s hand by gun and rod ,
The rugged out door li fe ,—all theseHad strengthened me and given zest to l i fe
And bani shed death to three score years and ten .
And as I rode thus mus ing on the trai l ,
My eyes upl i fted to a beauteous range
Of footh il l s stretched between two sentinels ,
—Grizzly Peak and Roxy Ann , a sudden , strange
Twist o f fate , such as does sometimes enter
Into l i fe’s circl e and warp and change u s
Till l i fe whirls around another center ,
Took shape before me in the form and face
Of one most dear to me, my boyhood’s chum .
For many months I’d reckoned him as dead ,
Yet there he stood before me , w i ld-eyed , dumb%
Wh i le a mighty continent lay between
D ick Posey
O ld Hudson’s banks , where both were born and bred ,
And Oregon , where both this miracle had seen .
Why Phil%% I gasped , and what in heaven’s name
Old Jack as I’m a sinner%% Wi ld surprise
Thri lled in our voices as with firm clasped hands
We looked with glad content in friendship’s eyes .
We talked as only pals can talk when they
Have much in common , friends at home ,
And all the changes wrought , marriages , deaths ,
Our boyhood pranks and how I chanced to come
Away out here into this rugged land .
And ever as we talked it seemed that he
Avoided sel f , would grasp me by the hand
Anew and shake it with fevered fervor,
Tell ing me o’er and o’er how glad he was
To find me there , how we would scale those h i ll s
And whip the streams far up the S iskiyous
For trout , the l ike o f which I’d never seen .
He knew the haunts of elk and deer and bear
Where mountain quai l and grouse and pheasants used%
We'd rest a spell , then he would take me there .
And thus he gabbled t ill , in sel f defense ,
And spurred on by a mountain appetite,
I cried , Desist old scout , pray lead us hence ,
Bold Daniel Boone , pathfinder o f the Rogue ,
D ick Posey
I've a hunger keen as a cross—cut saw ,
I feel t hat I could ravenously devour
A grou se or deer or grizzly bear blood raw .
My venerab le V irginia friend back there
Spoke of a m ighty ch ieftain hereabout ,
Where I might find refreshment and great ease
Within his teepee, and I have no doubt
But that I should have found h im somewhere near .
He lauded this great squaw man to the ski es ,
And added that h is squaw was passing fai r.
But , ere I test their hosp itality,
I fain would taste your salt, 0 comrade mine ,
80, lead on to your camp fire ere I swoon ,
We’l l talk o f aur adventures as we dine .
%
I'd thus rai led on wh ile easing up the cinch
On my spent horse , and noting that he said
No word in answer, I glanced toward my friend
And stared aghast% He stood with bowed head ,
Nor could he speak nor meet my w ondring gaze ,
The droop of shame sagging his shoulders down ,
While o'
er h is face the color came and went
And left h im pale .
’Twas piti ful , I own ,
To see this idol of my earl ier li fe ,
The toasted hero of athletic field ,
Captain and leader of each col lege stri fe ,
The pol ished favorite of the drawing room ,
With p ride of social rank and stainless b i rth ,
—Thus like a felon sentenced to hi s doom .
D ick Posey
Phi lip , o ld friend , I grasped his nerveless hand ,
If I have said in thoughtless strain one word
To stamp upon your brow thi s show of pain ,
Forget it , Phi l, consider i t unheard .
This love of ours is far too great a thing
To let some empty word, but idly sped
In senseless railery, though barbed with steel ,
Stalk through the echo ing halls of fri endship dead ,
Nor would I probe the secrets of your past ,
I do but ask your trusted friendsh ip back .
%
Wit h head stil l bowed , but in a fi rmer tone
He answered me,“I am the ‘Squaw Man’, Jack .
Small wonder that he shrank from decent gaze%
I knew the breed , treacherous and bestial ,
Reek ing in filth , t hei r squalid , stinking tents
Swarming with mangy dogs and insects vi le .
But sti l l I loved him and I told him.
so .
That i s my way , when once I find a friend
And t ake him to my bosom , his virtues
Overbalance far his weakness in the end .
W ith scarce unbroken si lence he led me by
A winding path to where his cottage stood .
It was a W insome spot and sweet to see ,
With madrone grove casting its shady flood
D ick Posey
O’er velvet grasses sprinkled thick with flowers ,
And , t rellised over door and window pane ,
Were flowering vines most beauti ful ly arranged ,
And scat tered round , roses of every name .
I caught my breath in wonder at the scene ,
Beauti ful ,% I said ,
“i t takes my breath away .
He smiled most gratefu lly,“Wel l , I am glad ,
For it i s yours as long as you will stay .
He led me to a shaded ru stic seat ,
And , going to a spring house near at hand ,
Came back to me with pitcher b rimm ing o’er
With choicest beverage of any land ,
—Rich , creamy m ilk , the nectar of the gods%Seat ing h imsel f beside me he began
Unasked
PHIL IP’S STORY .
I wish to tel l my story first ,
I’l l t ry to finish with it i f I can
E re she returns—my wi fe—I mean . She’s gone
To vi sit some sick baby and may come
Within the hal f hour, and it i s not wel l
That she shou ld h ear , for, well Jack , there are some
Things that I would not have her know , for she’s
Sensitive and I wou ld not give her pain
If. I can help it , for she loves we well ,
As she has proven o’er and o
’er again .
Dick Posey
I th ink it i s not needful that I tel l
About my l i fe before I came away ,
—My change of fortune in one single strokeThat left me stranded , and I need not say
To you what sank me deepest in despai r .
God, how I loved her , Jack% And then to have
Her cast me from her l ife wi thout one tear ,
—Hurl back upon me all the love I gave%O f course , her purse-proud people doubtlessly,
%For that she loved me some I am convinced),
O’er ruled such passi on as she fe lt for me .
But when in cooler moments I d id pause
And weigh the matter calmly in my m ind ,
I know I’d not have asked of her to wait
Til l I , without exper ience , might f ind
A way to fortune . So , without m uch care ,
I sold the few securit ies I found
Left float ing in the wreck , and such small things
As I no longer needed , that abound
In the apartments o f a bachelor .
I found ’mongst al l my friends but very few
I cared to bid farew ell . Strange how such th ings
Can change one’s nature so , but it i s true .
I left , not knowing whither I should go ,-Just wandered a imlessly from place to place ,
D id such small jobs as I cou ld find to do
To eke out the small p ittance in my purse .
But ever as I went I traveled west ,
Di ck Posey
Ever I kept my face turned from the spot
Where I had suffered so , and it seemed best ,
For constant change would buoy my spi ri ts up .
No labor was too menial for my hands,
—Was just content to breakfast , d ine and sup .
No use to weary you with dull detai l
About my journey ’cross the continent ,
You’ve covered the same route , so please revi ew
Your own experi ence and be content .
One day I’d ridden far across a stretch
Of dreary sage land , shimmering with heat .
My grub was spent and I was parched with thirst
And near exhausted , for I could not eat
Such food as I could buy from Indian hoard ,
You’ve seen the breed and know the reason why .
For weary hours I’d watched a l ine of trees
That cut across the plain, unerringly
Betraying to my eager, famished gaze
Sure si gns of l iving water, and , perchance ,
A rabbit or sage hen or speckled trout ,
Refreshment seasoned with the sauce of chance .
I reached the stream near sunset and had but
Alighted from my horse to ease the load
Of pack and saddle from his aching back ,
When suddenly from out the shade there strode
A graceful buck , wit h sleek and shining coat .
Dick Posey
Magni ficent he was and fair to see,
Proud monarch o f hi s realm of trackless plain ,
Clothed in t rue grace and untaught dign ity .
One moment did I note the splendid form ,
And then with silent reach my ri fle found ,
When with good luck and but a single shot
I lay the antlered monarch on the ground .
With exaltation high I cast aside
My ri fle and unclasped my hunting knife
And in a moment I was bending o'er
My prize , so lately full of joyous li fe .
Of course , the act was rash and did betray
My utter ignorance of huntsman's lore,
And, since Experience i s a teacher rare ,
Who oftentimes must wield the birch before
We are w el l schooled to battle w ith this li fe ,It happened thus I learned my lesson there .
For scarce the tender throat had felt the sting
Of knife point reaching for an artery,
E’er my prone supper, with a sudden spring,
Had hurled,me backward with such graceful ease,
—And then he charged me , maddened with h is pain ,
Enraged beyond endurance with the keen
S ense of hatred for his foe.
'Twas in vain
I tried to reach my ri fle where it lay,
He was upon me like a ri fle shot%
Dick Posey
I took the impact o f his antlered head
Upon my shoulder, and I felt a hot
Pang where the frontal prong had pierced my flesh ,
And though it caused an ecstasy of pain ,
It brought a sense of c lamness to my m ind ,
I must meet force with force , instinct with brain .
I . g rasped the mighty antlers of the beast ,
—Fu l l three feet d id they spread from tip to tip ,And , bend ing to my foe
’s impetuous lunge ,
We tested strength to strength .
’Twas wel l my grip
Was strong , my tendons hammered into steel
Back there on co llege campus in my youth'Twas well I'd ben% the oar o f bound ing shel l
That sped old Harvard into fame again%’Twas wel l I'd sucked the keen breath of the plains
And fed from bounteous palm of Nature’s hand
My ent i re l i fe seemed shaped and focalized
To meet this champion o f a rugged land .
A spell we stood transfixed with muscles taut ,
E ach feeling for some weakness in hi s foe ,
When suddenly he reared and , striking out ,
The sharp edge o f his hoof cut keenly through
Thick leathern “chap % into the flesh beneath ,And I could feel the warm blood tri ckling down .
'Twas then my manhood left me , and the brute
Dick Posey
A shiver through his form, a smothered groan,
Then near at hand a. sudden sharp report
Of ri fle,—then darkness came upon me .
I woke to sweet sound o f gurgl ing water
That taunted my parched thirst to agony,
And when my eyelids l i fted I saw dimly
An Indian maiden bending over me .
“Me w antum drink, I gasped%“heap thi rsty, sabe ? %
She pressed my own cup brimm ing to my l ips ,
And then I swooned again within her arms .
I wakened to soft touch of finger tips
Upon my brow, and when she saw that I
Was conscious, she placed me upon the ground .
“You're better now, she said,“the worst is past .
Her voice was low and gentle, and I found
Her Engli sh pure as mine .
I humbly crave
Your pardon , lady, but I thought—you—wereI stammered .
“Indian ? Wel l , I am , she said ,
O r partly so , and then I looked at her
And knew she was a “breed .
%
Her splendid streng th
Susta ined me as I struggled to my feet ,
Di ck Posey
And stayed me as I climbed the sloping bank
Down which , unaided , she had borne my we ight .
My prostrate foe lay where he had fallen ,
While on the carcas worked an Ind ian crone ,
Hideous , toothl ess , eager at her task .
I wish to thank some one for my poor l ife .
I feel , beyond a doubt , I need not ask
Who fi red the sh ot. that robbed my val iant foe
O f well earned victory , so I thank you .
%
Pray no , she answered with a glint of m irth ,
That I did slay him , I admit is true ,
But then we needed meat . My g randdame there
Counts this but a godsend , and if you find
It in your heart to claim it , I pray you not ,
She’s al l I have ,—and —sometimes—she is kind .
I found my wounds most painfu l . E re many steps
I settled down once more upon the ground ,
And lay there ’twixt a torpor and a swoon .
She bathed with water coo l each painfu l wound
And’tended me with graceful skill and soon
I felt the strength come back into my veins .
She helped me up and unresistingly
I followed to their lodge ,’twas very clean
And wholesome , and , old friend , it seemed to me
A paradise compared with what I'd seen
Dick P osey
For many months—A couch ofw oundrous ease
Refreshed my tortured body, and a cool
Draught of refreshing wine from vines and trees,
Sweet with wi ld honey, and the so ft , cool touch
Of woman’s hand , refreshed and soothed me to rest
That night my wounds grew fevered and I raved ,
And for some days I hung ’twixt l i fe and death ,
But ever I could sense a woman near .
And sometimes I would wait with bated b reath
Till she bent over me , then I would grasp
Her hands , pour out my love entreatingly,
—Gabb le the silly nonsense of my youth ,
Thinking she was the one most dear to me .
Abundant health , clean blood and tender care
Soon yielded me my strength in partial meed .
The food was wholesome ,—fi sh and venison ,
Wampus , a sort of b read made from ripe seed
Of swamp lil lies , most pleasing to the taste ,
Wild fruits , honey and roots dug from the earth ,
—All poured out richly in this favored land ,And, to these simple folk , o f priceless worth .
It 0 t 0 t t 0
One day w e two were seated by the stream ,
The Indian maiden , Ni ona and I .
In answer to her earnest questioning
Di ck Posey
I told her of my li fe , and eagerly
She listened as a child would to a tal e
Of fairy land , so little did she know
Of this great world outside her simple li fe .
Then in return , I felt it right to show
An interest in her and asked that she
Would t el l me of her past . At first she shrank
And hesitated to confide in me .
And then in simple cando r, modest grace,
She told me of her li fe . And 0, my friend ,
’Twas p iti ful . I cou ld but blush in shame
And loathing at my own race in th e end
My people on my mother’s s ide were ‘Rogues ,
’
A warl ike tribe that ranged these rugged lands ,
And fought your people til l you crushed them down
And tore thi s rich realm from thei r bloody hands .
P ewh aps’twas best my mother’s tribe should die
And be naught but a memory , -a dream .
We simple folk but fai l to understand
The many ways o f Providence , and why
The weak should ever bow before the strong .
They fought the white man for the right to l ive
Thei r simple lives in the i r own simple way ,
But they were crushed and, dying , did but g ive
Blow for blow , defiance against strength
And passed in bitter hate , as was thei r w ay .
Di ck Posey
“My granddams there was married in her youthTo a white hunter of the Hudson Bay ,
And when my mother lay upon her breast,
A new born babe . he left them there alone
And ne’er returned ,—perhaps ’twas for the best .
They tell me that my mother’s face was fair,
Her form was comely, and she grew in grace
And beauty as the seasons came and went .
I never could recal l her form and face ,
She died when I w as but a l ittle chi ld .
But oft my granddams talked of her to me .
She grew to maidenhood amid the wi ld
E nvirons of our t ribal l i fe and ways ,
And many of her kind d id try to win
Her hand in marriage in her youthful days ,
But e’er it seemed the white blood in her veins
Would cry aloud for mating with its kind .
One day there came a white man to the camp ,
Handsome and bold , and -twas not hard to find
A welcome , for he carried treasures rich
And dear to Indian hearts , and found his way
Into thei r simple confidence with gi fts
That cost him little . And day by day
He traded with them , giving beads for pelts ,
And knives for skins of otter, perchance a gun ,
Di ck Posey
Powder and bal l for priceless sable fox .
Thus to his gain thei r confidence he won .
He gained my mother’s heart as easily
As I thus pluck this poppy from its stem ,
And they were married by our simple rites .
It seems that peace and comfort dwelt w ith them
For many moons, he ever was most kind,
And she enthroned him in her woman’s heart
And , bowing down , she worsh ipped at his shrine .
But then it chanced a white man came to camp
With letters for my father, and he grew
Restless and morose , yet yielding ofttimes
To fits of tenderness , as though he knew
Her for t h e priceless treasure that she was
Whom he much feared to lose . And then one day
He bade ‘Farewell for but a little while’
And left her with her tribe and went away
And ne’er returned to her ,—then I was born .
“She died within a twelvemonth from my birth ,
—Sank peacefu lly to rest one bright spring mornEre my frai l lips had learned to lisp her name
Or memory stored the image of her form .
I grew apace , as healthy childhood grows,
Basking in sunshine, buffeted by storm ,
Dick Posey
Scal ing bold heights or tramping many m iles
The pathless forest, for I knew no fear .
But as I grew, the chi ldren of my age
Avoided me and oftentimes would sneer
And cal l me ‘Paleface ,’ for they understood
Th e b lood of two white men flowed in my veins,
So I was outcast from hate of alien blood .
I b rooded much alone and nursed the hope
My father would some day return to me
And take me wi th him out into the world ,
But he has ne’er returned .
My friend , I can not see
Why he should bring me to th is harsh cold world
And leave me here alone . Nor could I tel l
Why a just God , in whom I’ve learned to trust ,
Who ever guards and loves the sparrow well ,
Should thus forsake me when I’ve done no harm .
I now but hope my father may be dead ,
I find no comfort in the thought that he
Stil l l ives , yet gives h is flesh and blood no bread
Nor comfort of hi s presence and h i s love.
One day, a missionary , passing by,
D id find me weeping in my loneliness,
And , by hi s questioning, and kindly eye ,
Won my young trust to him so that I told
Him of my childish griefs . He heard me through
Dick P oscy
I tarried at the settlement a while ,
Taking such gi fts as fickle Fortune b rings ,
And in the main they were most kind to me ,
Yet soon I missed his kind protecting care .
They knew that Indian blood flowed in my veins .
And I soon sensed the chasm stretching there
Between the outcast and her father’s race .
And then one day- I drained the bitter dregs
Of outraged womanhood and shame ,—I need
Not tell you al l ,—but one did offer meBlack insult , for he knew I was a
‘breed .
’
I struck him fiercely on the l ips , then fled
Back to my nati ve tribe , but soon I knew
There was no welcome for me , even there ,
Then Granddame brought me to this spot , and
Now know N iona's hi sto ry .
She paused
And I could see the look of weary pain
Upon her face , and understood how she
Had suffered wh ile l iving o'er her li fe again .
I felt a soft splash on my hand and knew
My eyes were wet from pity of the child .
I spoke no word , for feeble words ne'er do
Convey the sense of feel ings deeply sti rred .
So I but pressed her hand in sympathy
Dick Posey
And l ingered by her side , while each was touched
With sympathy for each .
Then gently she
Did look into my eyes and ask that I
Should tell her of the one I deeply loved ,
And who did not return my love , and why
I sti l l should love her so . And then I knew
I’d babbled in my t ortured , fevered dreams .
And so I told her all , as brothers do
With sisters whom they feel that they can trust .
And yet you love her, when you know that she
Returns it not—or measures it with go ld ?%
She asked . I d id not speak , but silently
l bowed my head .
“And , friend , i s there not one
In this great world that you do know so well ,
Among the many women you have known ,
Who , knowing you , would love you for yoursel f ?%
I felt my spirit suddenly recoi l
As i f it were profaned . No , no , my friend ,
I can not l ift my love from virgin soi l
Where it is rooted , and with careless hand
Transplant and fix it in another li fe ,
You have not loved or you would understand,
I answered .
Dick Posey
You would sti ll make her your wife
I f you had gold in plenty and could give
Her priceless j ewels, robes of richest hue ,
And all the things most precious in her eyes ,
If these would w i n such love as hers to you ? %
I did not speak to her but knew that she
Had read the answer in my eager face .
Then she arose and beckoned me to come,
And si lent ly I followed from the p lace ,
Still haunted by the picture she had drawn
And conj ured out of nothingness for me .
How long we walked I know not , but at last
She paused within a canyon . Silently
She pointed upward where a stream did leap
From lip of p recipice through giddy space
And , caught by playful breeze , i t b roke in spray ,
Tumb l ing and bounding in t he merry race
For lower levels . And it chanced the sun
Topped the high hi lls and sent its piercing ray
Through sparkl ing prism s, dancing in mid ai r,
And Lo% a rainbow spanned the narrow,
Robing Niona with celestia l l ight .
It'was a scene most beauti ful , my friend ,
’Mid all the wonders of th is wondrous land ,
And she was beauti ful ,'twas not t il l then
That I did sense the comeliness of her,
Dick Posey
—Her artless grace and unspoiled maidenhood ,And had my heart been free and unpossessed
I think I could have loved her as she stood .
Aha% you’re standing at the rainbow
’s end ,
And where’s the pot of gold, my lovely queen ?%
I cri ed with sudden happiness o f heart,
Caught from the strange , wi ld beauty of the scene .
“And shal l we play at fai ri es, fri end of mine ?%
She cried ,“Your fate is resting in my hand .
And shall I beckon goblins from their haunts,
Or summon fairi es with my wi llow wand ?
Now, since I wil l to you your heart's desire,
’T is thus Niona brings you back your love .
%
She swept apart the bushes at her side
And motioned me within a lit tle cove,Formed by the arching of great jagged rocks .
The place seemed spectral in the dim hal f-night
And I did not note N iona’s face shone pale ,
And that her eyes seemed burning with the l ight
Of fierce fires kindled deep within her soul .“My friend , the ra i nbow ended here , she sai d ,
And , po inting dow n,“Behold your pot of gold .
And there it lay% a tempting, gleaming mass,
Pure virgin gold, ful l freed by Nature’s hand
Dick Posey
From rotting quar tz% My wi ldest boyhood dream
Had never p ictured fabled wealth so grand .
And as my greedy eyes devoured the scene,
I marked the ledge ’tween wall s of porphyry
Clearly defined , noted the t imber there
Ready for use , nor did I fail to see
The cataract that bared its brawny arm
To crush the golden quartz with fist o f steel ,
All this I noted as I stood there dumb .
And then , hal f'
dazed , I felt the gentle touch
Of trembling fingers , and N iona’s voice
Seemed faint and distant as i f overmuch
The mental strain had sapped her strengt h away %
And is N iona’s gift enough , she breathed
To win your love back to your empty arms ?
Is it enough to fil l her heart w ith love
And add true passion to her many charms ?
Is i t enough to deck her in r i ch robes,
And hang rare jewels on her snowy breast ?
If it but brings true happiness to you
Niona i s content her friend i s b lest .
I looked into her earnest , candid eyes,
Whence shone her soul in pure transparency ,
And knew my image rested in her hea rt .
D ick Posey
Of course, I loved her not, but just to see
A love so pure, unselfish , she would give
Hersel f, her soul , her al l with b leeding heart
To let my poor, mean , sel fish passion live .
—My friend , i t was a gl impse of Paradi se .
And though my early love yet fettered me ,
I knew my sou l would ne’er be satisfied
With aught but glad , unselfi sh love for me .
And then I to ld her that I could not take
This rich gi ft from her hand , and idly go
Through l i fe in wealth and luxury and ease ,
Whi le she no happiness nor peace would know%
That her sweet unselfishness had put to shame
The memory of her whom yet I loved
That , had the wealth she offered me been m ine
By right o f honest toil , her act had proved
I ne’er would be content with purchased love .
She said but little and we left the spot
With scarce a backward glance , and al l that night
I wrestled with the problem of our fate .
I could not leave her thus , I had no right
When she had saved me from a brutal death ,
And , from the fullness of unselfish love ,
She gladly offered me her new found wealth ,
Di ck Posey
—To bu ild my l i fe upon her broken heart .Jack , I could not leave her thus , nor could I
Ask her to leave her lodge wit h me unwed .
I thought of marriage , but I held the tie
Too sacred—Then to think of child of mineWho must endure the taint of Ind ian blood%
And my imagination conjured up
Tales that often I had read in boyhood ,
Of how a hyb red breed would oft revert
To darkened skin or bestial savagery .
—And then N iona’s sad , sweet face would comeBefore my mental vision , si lently
Rebuk ing all my sel fi sh fears and doubts
Next day I asked the chi ld to marry me ,
—To link her life with mine that we might g oAway together, and explained that she
Need but to love me as a brother true ,
And she would be a si ster by my side ,
To cheer and comfort me . And I did pledg e
To be her faithful b rother and abide
With her the same as i f my parents’blood
Flowed in her veins , and hold invio late
Her maiden purity , and she should
Be the si ster for whom I’d ever yearned .
At fi rst she wept and said it could not be ,
Her Indian b lood would ever hold me down
Dick Posey
N o use to tel l
You all or weary you with dul l detail ,
Inside a month a princely fortune came
Wi thin our hands . We settled in this spot ,
And here we stil l abide , even the same
As when I married her, a sister , she ,
And to keep my pledge I fai thfu lly have tried .
But often I do feel the bitter sting
Of deep humil iation , not of my pride ,
But that I know how keen she feel s the pain
When neighbors , t houghtless , but with fai r intent
Do call me “Squaw Man% , and it is in vain
I tell her that it matters naught to me ,
Yet she will often brood alone and weep ,
Thinking it fault o f hers that I must drink
The wormwood of humiliation deep .
Ah%Niona .
%
And she was standing t here .
%ueenly she was and very fair to see ,
Straight and wel l rounded as the mountain pine ,
Her eyes like moonless midnight, and t he free ,
E asy poi se of her, and womanly grace
Of form and feature made a p icture rare ,
Wel l graven in my heart . And now that I
Do look back from ripe age and see her there ,
And though the fi res o f passion burn but low,
Dick Posey
I feel anew the same sweet , thri ll ing charm
That drew my soul to her, I know not how .
He called her to us and in kind ly words
He named me as hi s nearest , dearest friend ,
A sking her kindly welcome , whi ch in grace
And simple dign ity she did ext end .
I found their home a cozy little nest
Fi l led with comfort such as ample means a ffords
In frontier Oregon . and O% the rest
And luxury of easy couch % and food
Prepared by woman’s hand % and the dear
Memories of home% the scent o f flowers
In radiant glory% the sweet atmosphere ,
Fragrant and clean rinsed through resinous boughs
And , spread before us in beauty unsurpassed ,
The V alley of the Rogue , bedecked in al l
The radiance of summer , and the vast
Stretch of encircling mountains, like a frame
To wondrous picture from the hand of God .
Much have I wandered in my earthly span ,
Many a foreign land my feet have trod%
I have gazed on Alpine beauty , E gypt ,
Di ck Posey
And sacred Palestine, where God came down
From central realm of Un iversal Space
And took man to his bosom as his own%
I’ve scaled the lofty Andes o f the South
And left footprints in the Himalayan snow
But ne’er a spot on earth compares with thi s
Sweet Valley of th e Rogue, where ever blow
%ephyrs laden with the smel l of flowers ,
Softened in winter by the ocean’s b reath ,
Cooled in midsummer by high altitudes
Where lurk eternal snows in mountain cleft .
And so the happy days sl id by l ike happy dreams
In happy chi ldhood , and we three drew near
E ach other, as do sou l s in intimate
And congenial intercourse , grow yet more dear .
Philip made good h i s prom i se and we spent
Long days in keenest sport with rod and creel .
And 0, the joy of casting tempting fly
Into some shaded pool%and then to feel
The surge of unseen l i fe with startled plunge ,
Try to escape the thing that checks i ts speed
And binds it to some enemy it fears%
With joy we note the singing reel and heed
The bond of supple rod , and rush of line'Neath burning finger . Sudden it doth break
Dick Posey
The glassy surface o f the pool , and high
It leaps into the a i r and tries to shake
The hook from aching throat , then down once more
Into its native element , and yields
To unknown skill it cannot understand .
Niona told us of a lake that wields
A fearsome spell upon the Indian heart .
It lay upon the crest o f the Cascades ,
Deep sunk wi thin a cavern , and’twas said
No warrior i s so brave but he evades
The weird enchantment of the awful spot ,
Lest demons that di sport beneath the wave
Wi l l clutch his soul and pull him down to Hell .
Nor durst they even look upon it , save
In wint er when 'tis crusted o’er w ith ice ,
Which holds the demons pri soned down below .
‘Twas known among the whites as Craker Lake% ,
And we arranged a pi lgrimage to go
And view thi s wondrous work of nature’s hand .
I find not space within this humble tale
To tell to you the glori es we beheld .
And had I space, my puny words would fail
To lift the canvas from God’s masterpi ece.
We threaded forests where the giant pine
D ick Posey
Rose smooth and limb less for an hundred feet
We mounted grani te pinnacles to find
New undiscovered glories spread beneath ,
Around , above us, far as eye could reach ,
Wh ich we could but behold with bated breath%
We stumb led upon dazzling si lver lakes ,
Smiling in sunlight ,—one that I recall ,Lake of the Woods ,
% folded in Woodland arms,
—An artist’s dream , rare jewel of them all%
And then the luxury of evening camp,
Pitched hastily on brink , of murm’r ing stream ,
And then the banquet of the wi lderness%
The si zzling veni son, delicious steam
Of fragrant coffee,—diet of the gods%
—Speak not to me of gi lded banquet hall ,Where wealth and beauty grace the g lit
’t r ing board ,
Where glint of gems on snowy bosoms call
A challenge to the gleam of radiant wine,
Where softened music l ike a pleasant dream
Steals on the sated ear in strains d ivine
But , k ind ly spread my banquet’neath the trees ,
With tri ed and kindred spi rits clustered ’round ,
Where wealth of intel lect and grace of soul
And trusted fri endship ever may he found .
And, should we look fo r gleam ing j ewels there,
Just look above , each incandescent star
Dick Pose}%
Gleams from it s sapph ire setting in the sky
And spreads its bri l liant radiance from afar .
And music ? Listen to the waterfall
The chirp o f homing b ird in glad content%
The hum of insects%note of night-hawk’s cal l%
The whispering trees%—all form one instrument,Which , swept by velvet touch of summer breeze,
Makes one vast, sobbing melody sublime ,
That lulls us into slumber ’neath the trees .
0 it It i t t t t it
E arly one morning, wading deep in snow,
As dazzled eyes did meet the sun’s first rays,
We topped the frustumof a mighty cone ,The ob j ect of our tramp of many days .'Tis but a remnant o f the loftiest peak
That in past ages graced the Cascade Range,
E re smothered gases, deep wi thin the earth ,
Biting igneous walls , did feel a strange
Blast from mighty furnaces below,
And suddenly igniting , loosed the strength
That shook a hemisphere from pole to pole%
Then upward leaping through t he blackened length
Of vast volcan ic throat it tore its way,
Shakin g the mountain from its base to crest
In a mad rush toward the l ight o f day%
Till shortened radius cou ld no longer hold
The force within . The mountain burst in twain.
Di ck Posey
Its m ighty apex leaping to the sky,
And then a deluge of infernal rain
Of fiery lava scorched the helpless earth .
And when in time, the pro-hi storic sun
Peered through the ri fts of vapor, i t beheld
A ruined mountain . And ’ti s t hus was won
The rock-ribbed resting place of Crater Lake .
Straight down below our eyes two thousand feet
Tremb led the surface of this wondrous lake .
It lay there slumbering in i ts bed , replete
With unearthly beauty, its sapphire hue
Richer by far than blue o f summer skies .
And as i t dimpled to the wind’s soft kiss,
New shades and co lors met our hungry eyes ,
And fleecy clouds, hung lazi ry above,
Were m irrored back in all their beauty rare%
And warrior eagle, soaring in the sky,
Shrieked angry chal lenge to his reflex there .
And , cheat of human vi sion% It but seemed
A scant two mi les across from brim to brim ,
But when you chain its vast ci rcumference ,
Ful l twenty m iles it measures ’round its rim .
And then, the sweetness o f i ts soli tude
The patience of the Hand tha t set it there%
Dick Posey
I knew the one who stil l ru led Philip’s li fe ,
Selfish , fickle , w ith but scarce a thought
Or care for al l l i fe’s grander, nobler things .
And then to see the one whom Fate had brought
Into his l i fe ,—fit queen for any king ,
Ah , could bu t love as that have touched my li fe,
Wedded to me in purity and trust ,
With al l the sweet intimacies of wife
And husband , cement ing our l ives in one%
Then , by God’s grace , to feel the gentle touch
Of baby hands , helpless yet strong as steel ,
Binding our soul s with thankfulness o'ermuch ,
I should not now , at three score years and ten ,
Mourn for the W ife who never had been m ine ,
Nor feel this lonely void of empty arms .
One day while we were basking in the shine
Of faultless summer, a neighbor came to us
To look upon the beauties of the lake .
He tarried through the day and won our hearts
With his gay haut’ring, and we did take ,
With welcome from his hand , a goodly store
Of venison . His wife was Indian bred ,
And through her ri ghts he'd taken up r ich lands.
And he urged that Phi lip , since he had wed
An Indian , should profit by the law
D ick Posey
And file on lands adjoining his domain ,
And by united effort in much ease
They’d win a fortune to their mut ual gain .
'Twas through a neighbor’s kindness that he spoke
But I could see the sudden droop o f shame
And flush of wounded pride on Phi lip’s face
At thought o r mention of the hated name
Of “Squaw-man .
%And Niona at my si de
Grew rigid , and’twas piti ful to see
The look she bent on Phil ip , and to note
The travail of her soul in agony .
And when the man had left us we did feel
That suddenly , the spot that charmed us so ,
Had lost its spell upon us , and we planned
That early the next morning we should go
Back to the ease and comfort of a home .
After the sun had set I left the camp
To take a last view of the wondrous scene .
I clambered down th e rocky trai l t i l I
Had reached the marg in o f the lake,but e’en
Its w oundrous beauty fai led to touch my heart .
I watched the summer moon rise pale and whit e
O’er all before me , and the loveliness
But added to my sense o f so l itude .
I pondered deeply on the ways o f Fate,
Trying in vain to sound the fickle mood
Di ck Posey
In which she chose to hold two l ives apart .
I looked into my heart and knew that they
Were both most dear to me , and hoped that I
Had found l ike favor w ith them and hoped the day
Would come ere long when I should see them wed
In soul as well as by the laws of man .
Possessed of wealth surpassing al l their needs,
Wi th honesty of purpose toward each , and
With wealth of intellect to take a grasp
Upon the richer , nobler things of li fe ,
It seemed to me a union , blest indeed ,
—The mating of a manly man with onePossessed of al l to fil l li fe’s cup with j oy .
And thus my mind d‘
id wander on and on ,
Conjuring up a dream that pleased me much ,
When I shou ld find sweet comfort in thei r home,
Seated with them around the glowing hearth ,
While children of their love , perchance wou ld come ,
And clamber on my knee in fri end l iness .
I pictured them out in the world of men ,
Where he by ri ght of character shou ld dwel l ,
And she could have her chance among them . Then ,
My lazy fancy saw her standing by
The one that robbed her o f a husband 's love ,
And I could see N iona’s splendid form
Well robed in fashion’s fancies , see her move
Dick Posey
In queenliness among her kind , and how
Her eyes would sparkle in the bri lliant light .
-Pictured her hai r, black as a raven’s wing,
Her rounded bosom aglint with jewels bright ,
And smiled to see the other’s feeble charms
Sink into nothing by N iona’s s ide .
I took a farewell glance upon the lake ,
Then , looking up , I saw a dark form glide
Out on a jutting crag that overhung
The hungry waters full t hree hundred feet .
My pul ses chil led , for there Niona stood
In silhouette against the sky . Then sweet
Her vo ice came fl oating to me through the gloom ,
The voice she lifted up in prayer to God %
Father above, in whom I've learned to trust ,
Who knowest the stony path my feet have trod ,
If thou canst hear me , li sten to my prayer .
Naught do I ask that Thou shou ldst give to me ,
But , from the fullness of a breaking heart ,
I plead that Thou wi lt take the misery
From Philip’s li fe , that he may lift his head
Among his kind , nor feel a sense of shame .
Father, I love him so% May sweet content
Dwel l ever with him , and grant that his name
May lose the stain my mother’s blood has wrought .
Dick Posey
Her voice was drowned in weeping for a spell ,
And I could see the look of agony
Upon her face, as e'en my own tears fell ,
I durst not move , lest I should startle her,
- But one false step and she would plunge to death
I could but wonder why she chose such spot
For her devotions—then with gasping breath ,
I felt a cold fear clutch my leaping heart ,
And al l my blood seemed to congeal within .
Then , l i ft ing up her face to Heaven , she sobbed %“Forgive Niona , i f thi s be a sin .
%
Light as an arrow from the hunter’s bow ,
She plunged head downward into empty space .
Th e gi ddy distance stretched its hungry arms
And fo lded her in cruel , stil l embrace .
Straight as a shaft she cut the stagnant a i r,
It wri thed and shrieked and whistled ’round her form %
Its restless fingers loosed her glori ous hai r
And tossed it st reaming backward l ike a shroud .
There come strange moments in these l ives of ours,
When we no longer sense the flight of t ime%
When seconds lengthen into endless hou rs,
And destinies are moulded in a breath .
Such moments come to us in stress of soul ,
On that strange border line of l ife and death .
Dick Posey
’Twas thus it seemed Niona checked her flight
And hung transfixed and balanced in mid ai r .
—’Twas then I knew I loved her—that her l ifeWas precious to my heart and dearer far
Than Mother, Sou l o r hope of Heaven—or wi fe
Or chi ld , that future years might hold for me .
I struck the water just as N iona’s form
Plunged deep into its cold transparency .
I’m but a feeble swimmer, in my youth
I scare could swim a hundred yards unspent ,
And there, the icy waters of the lake ,
Fed by the melting of the vast snow banks , sent
Shafts of cold pain along each star-t ied nerve .
It seemed I held i t naught that I should die ,
I knew I cou ld not hear her to the shore ,
But by some power I cou ld not fathom , I
Held li fe as naught—What di fference i f I foundA resting place within that c rystal lake ?
One moment’s pain , and then forgetfulness%
Then , very soon , my spirit would awake
And , tossing the waves aside , take its flight
To realms prepared for me , I know not where .
I reached the spot where she had disappeared ,
And, treading water, I sustained me there,
Though all the demons, born of Indian creed
Seemed to un ite thei r strength to pul l me down .
Dick Posey
It seemed to me a torturing stretch of years
I peered into the depths . At last there shone
A paler radience—'twas N iona’s form
Coming to me with outstretched hands for aid .
God%how I loved her—not as man for wi fe ,But with a passion that i s fixed and staid
Deep in the unknown chambers of the sou l%
A love that knows not time , content to wait
Til l , somehow, somewhere , earthly things have passed ,
Etern ity unrol ls the scroll o f Fate ,
And love , unt ramel led, comes into its own .
She broke the surface at my s ide as calm
As though she sought but pleasure there alone.
“Why did you come to me , my friend ? %
she asked ,
I gasped ,“You must not die a suicide%%
And then the waters'
with thei r icy hands
Twisted and cramped my flesh unti l I cried
Aloud in pain and writhed in agony ,
My muscles twi sting into knots l ike steel ,
- The demons of the lake had mastered me .
And t hat my time was short , I could but feel .“Go back to Phil , hi s love w i l l come to you,
Good-bye%%
I scarce had sunk when her fi rm hand
Did drag me back , and soon with steady stroke
She bore me , weak and helpless , to the land .
Di ck Posey
Ti l l ou r poor horses groaned beneath the load .
And ever as we wandered it did seem
We found new beauties , richer than before .
I’l l ne’er forget old Mount McL aug h l in , grand ,
A perfect cone , crested with dazzling snow ,
Stern sentinel , o’erlooking al l the land ,
Nor Roxy Ann , of a more modest mien ,
Green robed and restfu l to the weary eye .
We reached our home , ti red and travel worn ,
And grasped its comforts with a gratefu l sigh .
And then we whi led the lazy weeks away
With rod and gun in hunter’s paradise .
And ever would we happen on strange sights ,
—New wealth and beauty did constantly arise ,—Minera l sp rings , with gases deftly charged ,Gushed from the earth with power to ease and
Many of the infirmities of man .
The mountains had entranc ing tales to tell
For miles we traced the coast-l ine of a sea
That once had beat high up thei r rocky sides .
From Grizzly Peak to Roxy Ann did we
Trace it by shells imbedded in the rocks.
Niona t old us of a w oundrous cave
Deep in the fo rests of the low Coast Range ,
Dick Posey
And though the way was rugged , yet it gave
Full measure of reward for effort spent .
We found the entrance in a vast ravine
And pitching our camp we took well earned repose .
Next day we entered .
’Twas a tomb-l ike scene ,
And beaut i ful beyond description . Far
As our dim candles sent their rays, the walls
Of purest marble glittered in the light,
And tossed back myriad echoes to our calls .
We clambered through scant fissures but to find
E ntrance to new wonders . Clear stalact i-tes ,
Inverted cones, pendant from cei lings hi gh ,
Wh ile from the floor arose great stalagm ites ,
Gleam ing like cut glass in the candle light .
In one recess we found a tab le spread
With gorgeous napery, spun from snowy white
Threads of crystaled carbonates%and whit e swans
Floating in crystal pools%and tubes of glass
Which, at an artist’s touch would send forth strains
Sweet as the notes of sirens as they pass%
And bedoirs furn ished in ri ch draperies,
To tempt the weary t raveler to repose%
A“Curiosity Shop% filled with toys
And trinkets% the white l ily and the rose
Blooming in scentless beauty, side by side
And everywhere our candles’fl ick’r ing rays
% indled rich flames of colors , magn i fied ,
Diffused , into bewildering hues and shades .
Dick Posey
And then , there was the waters’ceaseless drip ,
Shaping forms and fancies wit h patient care,
Nor note of time , whi le years, unheeded , slip
On si lent wings i nto the fading past%
And then , the denseness of the quietude ,
With naught to b reak it but the crystal d rop ,
Bui lding , ever building, in solitude%
We spent two days in this bewi lderment
Of marble caverns. With ladders improvised
From sl ender sapl ings , and with our lariats
We scaled high wal ls to find new wonders , pri zed
For the great effort their attainment cost .
We found i t vain , even to estimate
The vastness of the subterranean halls .
I think that time wil l prove , they permeate
The ent ire mountain with a tangled skein
Of fi ssu res , labyrinths and lofty domes ,—Mile upon m i l e o f quaintest fai ryland .
In after years when eagerly man comes
To probe the secrets that l ie h idden there ,
With pick and powder he wi ll drive hi s way
From room to room , enlarging narrow halls ,
Bridging deep chasms unti l at l ength they lay ,
In al l the mysteri es of hoary age ,
Open to the world’s inqui ring gaze .
—A wond rous sto ry written in the rocks.
Di ck Posey
We pitched our camp within another maze
O f mount ain wonders . Ashland Creek , with all
Its many wanderings down a stately gorge .
It springs from melting snows am id the tal l
Pine clad cli ffs, and e’en from the very crest
O f old Mount Ashland , robed in dazzl ing white .
Ne’er in al l my wanderings had I beheld
A stream l ike that . Had I but words , I might
Paint a pen picture t hat would faintly show
Meager glimpses of varied beauty there .
Step above step , thousands of cascades rise’Tween grassy banks studded w ith flowers rare ,
The water whipped to foam in tumbling fl ight%
And gray squi rrels chattering on leafy boughs%
The W hirr of mountain quail from hidden nest%
The ch irp of robins and the call of grouse
And oftentimes it chanced a clumsy bear
Took sudden fright and fled from hostile man%
And deer, so plentiful and unafraid ,They e’en would almost feed from outstretched hand ,We chanced upon a cougar , red with blood
Of spotted fawn the creature had just slain
And high above us on a ridge appeared
A band of elk , marching in stately train
Upon their beaten t rail . And everywhere
Sylvan retreats offered alluring shade,Tempting us to kindle our camp fires there .
it is t 1. O t
I stood upon Mount Ashland’s lofty crest ,Niona at my side , to watch the sun
Rise from its golden couch beyond the h ills.
Dick Posey
We saw the shadows l i ft , and one by one,
The mountain peaks were tipped with l iquid gold
The shades of night went racing to the west
And all the hi gher places smi led to greet
This daily miracle from out the east .
First , Shasta rose, shaking night’s sable robes
From brawny shoulders , snowy crest held high ,
Shaping the outline of his giant bulk
In s i lhouette against the streaming sky%
Then the new born day in bouyant glee
Caught o ld McL ough l in in its warm embrace
And planted a kiss upon h is glowing brow%
And next old Baldy showed his pall id face
From nightly vigi ls o’er the “Marble CavesThen Grizzly, Roxy Ann and Pompadour
Shouldered into view% and then the val ley
Glowed in the splendor of the morning hour .
It was a vi ew well worth the arduou s cl imb
Through darkness up the steep and rocky trai l .
And stays impressed upon my memo ry
Where loftier vi ews in other cl imes but fail .
N iona spoke %“I’m glad I live , my friend ,
And , but for you , I should not now be here .
Can you discern those rim rocks j utting out
To right of old McLoughl in ? It was there
I tri ed to leap into forgetfulness .
I do not feel that ’twould have been a sin ,
As’twas for Phil ip’s sake and not for mine,
But , 0, this l i fe i s sweet , i f but to w in
Moments like these from out our l ittle span .
But I was sorely tri ed that I should be
Di ck Posey
E ver a shame and burden to hi s li fe .
And , had I died , my fri end, can you not see
That , with his gold, Phi l ip might e’en return
To her who rules hi s l ife and buy her love ?
And then at times I feared that I should lose
Cont rol of my weak sel f—my heart might moveIn answer to an impulse, and the fear
Was ever present and I trembled lest ,
Forgetting I had but the sister’s part ,
I throw myself in passion on his b reast .
And so I thought ’twas best, but as I fell
I saw you leap to rescue me , and t hen
I must not let you lose your l i fe for mine,
And so I came back to my—more than friend .
Niona, dear, I feel that you do know
Philip and you are both most dear to me,—I wish you both life
’s fullest meed of joy,
And ’tis my fondest wish that you should be
Wedded to each by all the sacred ties
Of wi fe and husband%but , Niona, child,
You must pay the price—’tis not hard to pay .
She looked at me , her features glowing wild
With new born hope . “Must pay the price, you say ?
You know that death for me holds no alarms,—Could I but know hi s love for one bri ef b reath ,I'd g ladly d ie next moment in his arms .
Dick Posey
But then , Niona , death is not the price ,
I answered ,“I shal l only ask that you
Th ink less o f him , a l ittle more of sel f .
Men are strange creatures , ch i ld , they oft en do
Love but the more when they are loved the less .
And i f a wife would b ind her husband by
The strongest ties to her , she will not give
Her every thought to him , nor will she die
To prove her deep devoti on and her love .
These earthly loves o f ou r not divine .
We think'ti s love when perchance ,
’tis but pride .
And , while I have not mastered al l the fine
Twists and turns of. human character , I
Have seen how men appreciate a wi fe
As she appears to others . If she dress
In taste most exquisite , and shapes her l i fe
To soc ial needs and l i fe's proprieties ,
And wins much admiration— and some hate,
Her husband will compare her many charm s
With those of others , and wi ll often rate
H is own salved pri de as the profoundest love .
I trust you know me wel l enough to feel
I would not stoop to id le flattery ,
So , to your sober judgment I appeal .
Your charms of form and feature are above
Those o f the average woman %your carriage
Is natural and fu ll o f unspo i led grace ,
While you have much advantage in your age
Your hai r i s ample for t h e dressers’art ,
And you have wit and buoyancy of mind ,
And you are glowing with abundant health .
Dick Posey
And should you mingl e in the busy throng ,
But very few would even note a trace
Of Indian blood within you , and so long
As wealth and beauty are your portion here ,’Twould add but romance to your many charms .
Now as to Phi lip , i t i s for hi s good .
You p ractice no deceit , but simply bring
The worth of your true sel f within his vi ew .
I know him well , h is l i fe i s pure and clean ,
And when his love comes ful l and complete to you .
’Twil l ever there abide ti l l death shal l come .
And do not once forget , your are his wi fe
And he your husband , and your duty stands
To h im , to drive a false love from his li fe
And claim t he heart which he wi ll gladly give ,
And which i s yours in honor and in right .
I am your friend , and al so Phil ip’s friend
I do not urge you thus in thoughtless, l ight ,
Unrip e w ords , but with al l the keenest sense
Of my devotion to you both , my friend .
Long did we talk, weighing the matter well
In al l i ts sub tle points , and in the end
She promised , i f Phi lip but deemed it best .
And we did pledge to each that we wou ld keep
The secret 'tween us ti l l our dying day .
D ick Posey
That night I talked with Ph il ip in the deep
%u iet of our mountain camp , urging him
To do hi s duty by Niona , to
Remove her from t h e land where she had known
So much of pain , w here joy was but her due .
That she shou ld have her chance to win a way
Among her father’s people , and to see
The world and try to make its ways her own .
And ’twas not long before I knew that he
Did see h i s duty to her, and hi s h igh
Sense of honor did make hi s duty clear ,
And he consented , i f i t were her wi ll .
I tarried but a few days longer there ,
Then , wi th regret , I bade my friends farewel l .
I will not weary you in labored words
With all the details of my journeyings
Through lands whose mystic history a ffords
Substance for vo lumes weightier than th is .
I threaded far into the somber shade
Of redwood forests , wondrous to behold%
I climbed old Shasta’s slopes and proudly made
My camp fi re high in never melting snow
I spent some weeks in grand Yosemite ,
Drinking its marvels with a g reedly thi rst
I dropped into the val leys but to see
Marvels of soi l and wealth of spread ing plain ,
Whi l e veryw here was rioting of flowers ,Fruits adrip wit h luscious sweetness , gay birds ,
Shrieking thei r gladness to me ,—golden hou rs,
'N eath radient sky o f endless summer%
I often pitched my camp with brawny men
D ick Posey
Bearded and massive in efficient power,
Pitting thei r strength against the great day , when
Their eyes wou ld see the yel low , gleaming hoard
With in the palm o f Fortune’s outstretched hand .
And I have answered to the magic spell
With pick and shovel in the tempting sand ,
And I’ve e’en felt the reel ing , drunken joy
Of glow ing nuggets in my itching palm .
I stood one eve and watched the blood red sun ,
Robed in fleecy vapor t rappings , and calm ,
S ink to repose beyond the Golden Gate .
I’l l ne’er forget the scene . It seemed that God
Stood at the portal s o f a continent ,
Watching the path that few as yet had trod ,
With hand most provident to wayward man ,
Spread open and pa lm downward o’er the land ,
From wh ich had dropped h is richest earthly gi fts ,—Ah , why wil l m en forget to bless that Hand ?
t it
Two glori ous years passed by and one day found
Me seated in my club in calm content .
I found it good to t read the beaten paths
Of old famil iar ways , where I had spent
My youth and ea r ly manhood , and to clasp
The hand of hal f forgotten college mate
And know that I was only hal f forgot .
I spent much t ime in pondering o f late
O’er Phil ip and Niona , conjuring up
The many scenes through wh ich we three h ad passed ,
Dick Posey
Wondering how wayward Fate had dealt with them ,
And whether they had heeded me at last .
I sm i led to think that I , a bachelor ,
Should turn match-maker between man and wife ,
Stepping boldly “Where angels feared to tread , %
—I , with ne’er a romance in my l i fe .
As I thus mused a lone , a messenger
Placed a dainty note wi thin my hand ,
And thus i t read %“To my dear o ld fri end , Jack
Just read of the wanderer’s return , and ,
Fearing lest you m ight fli t away again ,
I hasten to forestal l you in the act .
I thus command that you forthwith forsake
Your musings , and your presence I exact
This very night . A few congenial friends
Wi ll congregate beneath my humble roof
To hold h igh jinks . My lord and master lends
His voice in this request , vowing that he
Gladly forgives those school day tragedi es
That you and I enacted long ago .
And by the by , I know that i t w il l p lease
You much to learn that ou r old mutual friend
And pal , Philip , will b e here , big as l i fe .
And 0, Jack , l isten now , and hold your breath
He’s found a wond rous creature for a wife%
—P icked her up somewhere out in the great West ,And she’s bewi ldering the hearts of men
In g iddy old New York . Perhaps ’twere best
Not t o expose you to her dazzl ing charms ,
Lest she inscribe you on her leng th’ning scrol l
Dick Posey
Of conquests ,—but you'll know that she’s Ph il’s wi fe,
-And may the Lord have mercy on your soul%
Wi l l look for you promptly at nine .
Irene .
Wi th fevered haste I leaped into a cab
And rushed to my apartments . Such a scene
Had ne’er before disturbed the stately calm
Of poor o ld Sam . I ordered him about
With lordly tyranny and tempting bribes ,
And in a moment'
w e were tumb l ing out
Relics of by-gone t imes when I had donned
The gay accoutrements of beau ideal ,
Nor recked thei r anci ent cut and moth bal l sce'
Wh i le in anticipation I‘did feel
The wine of social contact in each vein .
Promptly at nine Irene's smi le greeted me ,
In cordial welcome to her home . Her reign
In social realms was undisputed , and“Flower o f beauty and ch ivalry were there .
I readily gained her consent to seek
Concealment behind a flowery screen where
I could see and seeing, not be observed .
The form and face of some fami l iar friend
Greeted my eyes where e’er I bent my gaze ,
And it was good to feel my sti rred heart send
A glow of fri endly warmth through nerve and brain ,
Wh i le Memo ry unro lled with li ghtning hand
Her scroll , leading me back to earli er scenes again .
Dick Posey
There Philip stood in his gigantic strength
And manly vigor, prince among his kind ,
Greeting his old time friends with fi rm hand clasp
And cordia l courtesy .
’Twas good to find
Him in my eyes, and to discern t hat he
Was m ingling with his friends in glad content .
I saw h im pause and bend above the chair
Of her who once had ruled h is heart , ‘and sent
Him from her l i fe w ith scare a thought or care .
And closely did I watch for trace of pain
Upon h is features , but he stood at ease ,
Giving court eous heed to some inane
Speech springing from the shal lowness of her .
And then I saw him strai ghten , and h is eyes
Turn from her and , watching , I saw his face
Soften and glow as i f in glad surprise ,
And fol lowing his gaze , I there beheld
Niona . She had but caught Phi lip’s smi le
And look of adoration , b i g with pride ,
And gladly did her sweet soul answer, whi le ,
Making excuse to those around , she arose
And moved toward her husband .
She wore the grace
Of stately pines bowing to gen-tie kiss
Of summer breeze , while stamped upon her face
Was the enraptured look I oft did note
The while she gazed upon some master scene
Of God’s own handiwork . I caught my b reath
In adm iration of her . In fancy e’en
I saw her back among the hi lls and vales
O f the sweet V alley of the Rogue , where they
Dick Posey
Had sunk thei r bigness deep wit hin her soul .
And now her glori ous form in rich array
Was very pleasing to the eyes of men .
Her rounded bosom , answering to the sway
Of deep emotions , l i fted its weight of pearls
Gleam ing in tangled rays of fires within ,
Her eyes , bright as the stars of western n ight ,—And my glad heart breathing her beauty in .
She turned her face d irect toward my retreat ,
And e’en as i f in answer to her call ,
I went to her . At fi rst she stood transfixed
In wonder at my presence , and then al l
That we had been to each swept over us
And I did take h er outstretched hands in mine .
“My more than friend ,
% she breathed ,“I’m happy , Jack .
I saw her l ips a-tremb l e and a tear d id sh ine
Upon her lashes , and then dear old Phi l
Descended swift upon me , and we three
Forgot al l el se around us for a spel l .—Then others came and struck glad hands with me ,And happily the evening hours passed by .
Phi lip and I were standing side by side
When I did note that , al l unconsciously ,
Niona stood beside that other one .
I could but smil e that my poor dream should
Thu s ful ly realized . The swi ft intake
O f Philip’s b reath did clearly prove to me
That h e beheld the contrast 'tween the two .
“Look , he wh ispered ,
“neve r before have I
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